Choosing a Large Bedside Cot
Bedside cots (also known as co-sleepers or bassinets) are designed to let parents snuggle with their infant at night without fear of SIDS. However they are not suitable for use up to 6 months of age when your baby will be required to be moved into a cot or moses basket.
Mehack Mehack, an MFM home tester, was awed by the fact that this model has an adjustable bassinet that can be used throughout the home. It also features the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to put together and came in its own travel bag for convenient storage.
Size
Cots are smaller than cots. Cots can also be converted into toddler beds. However they are typically used for children up to the age of three. If you're considering a wooden cot, there are usually two sizes to choose from - standard and large - both of which can be converted into a cot bed/toddler beds. If you'd like your child (or children) to be capable of sleeping in a larger cot, it's a good idea to choose the larger size.
MFM mom home tester Jasmine was pleased that this bedside cot was slightly bigger than a Moses basket, but not too large for the space of her baby's. Jasmine says it's easy to lift the baby into and out of the cot for evening feedings or to soothe, and that its quality is far superior to other cots she has seen that are less sturdy.
Emily is another home tester, loves the flexibility of the Maxi-Cosi lora - it is a portable, lift-off bassinet. It also rocks. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted in the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. The Lora fits South African cot mattress unlike many international or European brands. This means that you don't have to purchase a brand new mattress when your baby grows. However, it requires a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect mattress for your cot.
Height
When choosing a bedside cot, look for one that can be raised to a level that is comfortable for feeding your the baby. It also needs to be able to be lowered down out of the way so that you can pull your baby up towards you for night feeds or for soothing. This is especially useful when you're recovering from an operation such as a C-section. The Next2me cot and Tutti Bambini can be adjusted to an maximum height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 can go up to 63cm, and the Knuma Hutch to 70cm.
You should also think about the height you would like the bottom of your crib to be. While some mothers find it easier to get their babies out of traditional Moses baskets at the smallest level, some mothers prefer having a higher base that gives them more stability. bedside sleeper cot is a popular choice and one of our mum testers saying that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can use at the push of a button.
Remember that a bassinet/bedside sleeper should only be used until your baby can hold their head up unaided, usually at around 6 months. This is due to the danger of suffocation. It is also important to remember that if you select a bedside or bassinet which can be converted into a cot, you will need to remove the sides as soon as your child is able to do this, so that they don't get out of bed or fall out of bed.
Design
There are a variety of bedside cribs, from basic to lavish. Some of the more luxurious options include features like a built-in light or a center of calm that plays music and sound and comes with two levels to help ease your baby back to sleep or a swivelling footrest that makes it easier for you to reach your child in order to feed them. You can also find models that can be transformed into an infant bed or a toddler bed (or both) ideal for when your child is ready to transition to a bigger bed.
The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance was awarded Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards in the Best Cot Moses Basket or Crib category. It has a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and move them to the other side of the crib without getting out of bed. bedside crib that turns into cot is great for new mothers recovering from Caesareans or who have to remain in bed for prolonged periods of time. MFM mum home tester Jasmine loved this feature, saying it was simple to use and made her baby easier especially after a c-section.
Chicco Next2me Magic is another alternative. It won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket, or Crib and has a machine-washable lining, reflux incline, and rocking feature. It's bigger than the other cribs for bed that we tested, but it folds up into its travel bag to make it a small size when not in use.
Leya, MFM mum home tester, also acknowledged the crib's usefulness. She said it was designed for both parents and infants. It is easy to move and super-sturdy. She also said that the bassinet's pivoting base was brilliant because it let you move it from side to side. One of its sides could be lowered to make access easier for mothers who are recovering from c-sections.
Safety
A bedside cot that is large and spacious's most important security characteristic is that it is able to be moved up or down so that parents can reach their child to feed or comfort him or his or her nappies. This makes it perfect for new mothers recovering from the C-section. You should look for a design which allows you to lower the side of the bed with a single button press. This will allow you to easily raise your child without having to get out of bed. This is important, especially as your baby grows and becomes more mobile. You should also not add anything to the crib that increases the chance of suffocation or injury, including pillows and duvets. These can cause babies to overheat.
The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to issues with the product, such as gaps between the bedside sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents) and enclosed openings with fabric sides (11) and consumer assembly errors (6 incidents).
In its NPR the CPSC considered the possibility of introducing additional requirements to bedside sleepers. For instance, these products would have to meet the minimum height requirements for bassinets or at a minimum, the maximum height requirements for the rail that is lowered. The CPSC decided, however, that these requirements weren't efficient or effective in reducing number of instances in which infants are trapped between the bedside rail and an adult bed.
Many of the reported incidents in the NPR included bedside sleepers with multiple uses that could be converted into other modes such as bassinets and play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC include in the proposed rule a different provision for multi-use bedside sleepers that would allow them to meet the minimum side-height requirements for bassinets using a removable attachment that can be connected permanently or removed when the product is not being used as an actual bassinet.
The CPSC is currently examining these and other comments received in response to its NPR on sleepers who are bedside. The Commission will take into consideration these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to be published in November of 2021.